New Guinea Impatiens plant named ‘IMGZ0016’

ABSTRACT

A new New Guinea  Impatiens  plant named ‘IMGZ0016’ particularly distinguished by the lilac flower on short peduncles on a medium sized, semi-trailing, and well branched plant with deep dark green foliage.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Impatiens hawkeri.

Varietal denomination: ‘IMGZ0016’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new New Guinea Impatiens, botanically known as Impatiens hawkeri, and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘IMGZ0016’.

‘IMGZ0016’ is a product of a planned breeding program. The new cultivar has medium, flat flowers with the lilac color. The foliage is green with light red veins on the upper and lower side of the leaf. The space between the leaf veins on the upper and lower side is reddish. The plant is medium sized, semi-trailing and well branched.

‘IMGZ0016’ originated from a hybridization made in June 2005 in a controlled breeding environment in Hillscheid, Germany.

The female parent is designated as ‘Q2565-2” which has a salmon rose colored flower. The male parent is designated as ‘R938-100’ and is large sized and has lilac flower pattern.

The resultant seed was sown in November 2011 in a greenhouse in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands and ‘IMGZ0016’ was selected there as one flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in spring 2012.

The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘IMGZ0016’ was accomplished when vegetative stem tip cuttings were propagated from the initial selection in June 2012 in a controlled environment in Moncarapacho, Portugal.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Horticultural examination of plants grown from cuttings of the plant initiated in July 2017 in Gilroy, USA, has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for ‘IMGZ0016’ are firmly fixed and are retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

‘IMGZ0016’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity.

A Plant Breeder's Right for this cultivar was applied for in the European Union on Sep. 20, 2016, No. 2016/2291. ‘IMGZ0016’ has not been made publicly available prior to the effective filing date of this application, notwithstanding any disclosure that may have been made less than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application by the inventor or another who obtained ‘IMGZ0016’ directly from the inventor.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be basic characteristics of the new variety. The combination of these characteristics distinguishes this Impatiens as a new and distinct variety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographic drawing shows typical flower and foliage characteristics of ‘IMGZ0016’ with colors being as true as possible with an illustration of this type.

The photographic drawings show in FIG. 1 a close-up of the flowers and in

FIG. 2 a flowering plant of the new variety growing in 14 cm pot.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs were taken in July 2017 from plants grown in a container trial in Gilroy, USA. These plants were growing in 14 cm pots and were approximately 17 weeks of age.

The plant descriptions and measurements were taken in May 2017 on 17 week old plants growing in a greenhouse in Gilroy, USA. Cuttings were stuck in week 13 for rooting, planted into 10 cm pots in week 18, and were grown, without pinching, on benches in a greenhouse, initially at a day temperature of 18° C. and night temperature of 16° C. However, day temperatures often raised above 20° C.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.) 2001.

TABLE 1 DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE NEW VARIETY ‘IMGZ0016’ AND SIMILAR PATENTED VARIETIES JN752 (‘Sonic JP496 (‘Fisupnic Amythyst’ U.S. Plant Li’ U.S. Plant ‘IMGZ0016’ Pat. No. 17,689) Pat. No. 21,035) Flower color: Lilac Lilac Lilac Flower Pointed Very pointed Not pointed pattern: Habit: Spreading Small Small Branching: More Less Less

-   Plant:     -   -   Form, growth and habit.—Vigorous sized, spreading, well             branched.         -   Plant height.—21.0 cm (without pot), 27 cm (with pot).         -   Plant height (inflorescence included).—20.0-22.0 cm (without             pot).         -   Plant width.—24.0 cm. -   Roots:     -   -   Number of days to initiate roots.—7 days at about 22 degrees             C.         -   Number of days to produce a rooted cutting.—15-18 days at 22             degrees C.         -   Type.—Fibrous, free branching.         -   Color.—RHS 159A. -   Foliage:     -   -   Arrangement.—Simple leaves, mainly in whorls.         -   Young leaf, color upper surface.—RHS 139A.         -   Young leaf, color lower surface.—Closest RHS 139C.         -   Mature leaf, color upper surface.—RHS 139A.         -   Mature leaf, color lower surface.—Closest to RHS 139C.         -   Length.—Up to 13.5 cm.         -   Width.—Up to 3.2 cm.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Base shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Apex shape.—Acuminate.         -   Margin.—Serrulate, with short bristles.         -   Texture.—Slightly waxy and glossy on the upper surface,             glabrous on both surfaces.         -   Color of veins, upper surface.—RHS 60C.         -   Color of veins, lower surface.—RHS 63A.         -   Petiole color, upper side.—RHS 183B.         -   Petiole color, lower side.—RHS 183C.         -   Length.—Up to 2.5 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.1 cm.         -   Texture.—Glabrous. -   Stem:     -   -   Color of stem.—RHS 139B.         -   Length of stem.—About 14 cm.         -   Diameter.—1 cm.         -   Length of internodes.—Approximately 2 to 6 cm.         -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Number of branches.—6 main branches plus 8 side branches per             main branch.         -   Color of peduncle.—RHS 134B.         -   Length of peduncle.—3.3 cm.         -   Peduncle diameter.—0.4 cm.         -   Texture.—Glabrous. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Blooming habit.—Continuous flowering from late spring             through fall.         -   Type of inflorescence.—Solitary flowers emerge from the             upper leaf nodes of the stem.         -   Number of flowers per node.—1-2 open flowers and additional             buds in various stages of development.         -   Quantity of flowers per plant.—5 open flowers plus 35-40             (big and small) buds (12 cm pot plant in October).         -   Lastingness of individual blooms on the plant.—About 6-9             days.         -   Fragrance.—None.         -   Average petal number.—10. -   Bud (just before opening):     -   -   Color.—RHS 183A.         -   Length.—Up to 2 cm.         -   Width.—Up to 1.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate. -   Mature flowers:     -   -   Flower, vertical length.—6.5 cm.         -   Flower, horizontal width.—5 cm.         -   Flower depth.—1.5-2.0 cm.         -   Color of petals, upper surface.—RHS 72A.         -   Color of petals, lower surface.—RHS 72C.         -   Petal shape.—Heart shaped.         -   Petal apex shape.—Broadly obcordate.         -   Petal margin.—Entire.         -   Petal texture, upper surface.—Papillose.         -   Petal texture, lower surface.—Papillose. -   Calyx:     -   -   Arrangement.—One large sepal bearing the spur, 2 small,             lateral sepals, and 1 fused keel.         -   Large sepal(s).—.         -   Color, visible surface.—RHS 50C to RHS 50A.         -   Length.—1.9 cm.         -   Width.—1.4 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Apex shape.—Aristate.         -   Base.—Fused with the spur.         -   Margins.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper surface.—Papillose.         -   Texture, lower surface.—Papillose.         -   Lateral sepals.—         -   Color of surface.—RHS 166A.         -   Length.—1.3 cm.         -   Width.—0.6-0.7 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Apex shape.—Acuminate.         -   Base.—Fused.         -   Margins.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper surface.—Glabrous.         -   Texture, lower surface.—Glabrous.         -   Keel color.—From RHS 46A to more brownish tones, closest to             RHS 185A. -   Spur:     -   -   Color.—RHS 144C.         -   Length.—4.5-4.8 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.3 cm at the base, 0.1 cm at tip. -   Reproductive organs: -   Androecium: 5 stamen, fused with the anthers hooded.     -   -   Diameter of androecium.—0.7 cm.         -   Surface colon.—RHS N57B, fading towards margin.         -   Pollen amount.—Plenty.         -   Color of pollen.—RHS 8D. -   Gynoecium:     -   -   Pistil.—One, elongate.         -   Pistil length.—0.6 cm.         -   Stigma color.—RHS N57B.         -   Ovary color.—Dark brown, RHS 183A to RHS 144B (green).         -   Fertility/seed set.—Has not been observed on this hybrid.         -   Disease/pest resistance.—Has not been observed on this             hybrid. However, it is known for Impatiens New Guinea that             it is downy mildew resistant. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of New Guinea Impatiens plant named ‘IMGZ0016’ substantially as illustrated and described herein. 